Wire tightener



April 2, 1929- A. G. HJERT 1,707,634

WIRE TIGHTENER Filed March 51, 1927 Z Sheets-Sheet 22 j 2s ae 2r a INVENTOR ATTORNEY A. G. HJERT WIRE TIGHTENER April 2, 1929.

Filed March 31, 1552'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

ANDREW G. HJERT, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

WIRE TIGHTENER.

Application filed March 31, 1927. Serial N0. 179,757.

This invention relates to wire tighteners, particularly to the class employedin concrete construction for tightening the tie wires which hold the concrete forms in op- 81i1t1\6 position while the concrete is poured therein, and-aims primarily to provide an osoillative wire tightener especially designed for use within the relatively narrow or constricted'spaces of concrete forms during their erection for spinning or twisting the tie wires thereof to tighten the same by oscillativc movements of such wire tightener.

contemplated by the present invention is a wire tightencr embodying a manually operable oscillative member; an intermittently rotated wire spin iing or twisting member; means interposed therebe'tween for converting the oscillative movements of said oscillative member into. intermittent rotative movements of said wire spinning or twisting member, and means for initially tightening and securing the cndsof the tie wires upon the studding of the concrete forms, all of which are important features and objects of the invention and are to be correlated in the broad aim of enhancing the efficiency of the device for general use.

The above and additional objects which will hereinafter be more specifically treated 110 are attained'by such means as are shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more clearly pointed out in the clairns,wl1ichare appended hereto and form part of this application.

l'Vith reference to the drawings, in which there is illustrated several embodiments of the invention, and throughout the several views of which like characters of reference designate similar parts:

Figure 1 is a front elevation ofthe wire 'tightener comprehended by the present invention. v

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section thereof taken through 3-3 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken through 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken through 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modified form of wire tightener.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary edge view of the same. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section taken through 8-8 of Fig. 6.

.Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a concrete form in process of erection Wltlt the device of the invention operatively applied to a tie i wire thereof. c

Fig. 10 is a similar view with the device applied to a crossed tie wire. Figs. 11 and 12, respectively, illustrate the manner of operatively applying the device to a tie wire, and the positions assumed by such device, during wire twisting and tight emng operations.v

.Figs. 13, 14, and 15, respectively illustrate the manner of initially securing and tightening the ends of the tie wire upon the studding of the correlated concrete form prior to the spinning or twisting of such tie wire.

' the rod about the strands to twist the same,

which method was effective when spac'e permitted, but, when tie wires were located in narrow constricted spaces of concrete forms, only partial turning of the rod could be made, which necessitated eriodic removal of the same 'fromthe stran s, and as the central opening between the strands became progressively smaller due to the twisting of the latter it became increasingly diflicult to again insert the end of the rod therein. Wherefore, it is a primary object ofthe present invention to provide a wire twisting and tightening device: that maybe rapidlyand readily applied to the tie wire; that will'expeditiously twist the wire strands without rcmoviugthe same therefrom until the wire tightening operation is completed; that will function efiiciently and effectively in either open or in narrow constricted spaces; that is extremely simple, durable and economical in construction; and that will not readily get out of order.

, Beginning the more detailed description oi the invention by reference to the drawing, the numeral 16 designates an oscillative 'handle or frame having a flared terminal portion 17 and a laterally offset sectorshaped extension 18 integrally connected, upon its periphery and adjacent one end thereof, to said terminal portion. The inner face of the extension 1.8 concentrically undercut and rabbeted to provide a concentric seat 19 and a concentric rectangular groove 20 therein. Detachably secured to such inner face, as by screws 21, and normally abutting the same c is a com'plemental sector-shaped or segmental plate 22, the inner face of which is similarly undercut, and rabbeted to provi'de'a comtentric seat 23 and a concentric r rectangular groove 24 therein.

interposed between the extension 18 and plate 22 and disposed within the concentric seats 19 and 23 thereof is an intermittently rotated ratchet Wheel 25 having annular ribs 26 formed upon its sides contiguous to itsfperimetcr, which ribs are rectangular in cross-sectionand normally seat within the rectangular grooves 20 and 24, to thereby maintain and retain the ratchet wheel 25 in an operative positron between-the extension 18 and plate 22, as will bemanifest open-ended relatively short equivalent to three-fourths of such diameter for a purpose hereinafter set forth. Centrally and slidably disposed within the terminal portion 17 and normally projecting therefrom for selective en asement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 25 is a sprin pressed dog or pawl 29 provided with manually operable releasing pins 30 fixedly secured to the sides thereof, which pins ex- I tend or project perpendicularly therefrom through slots 31"formed'or cut in the terminal portion 17, whereat such pins are engage-d by a thumb and finger of the operator to rapidly and readily disengage the dog 29 from its correlated ratchet wheel, in an obvious manner. The pins 30 in conj 'mction with their correlated slots 31 also function to limitthe outward movement of thedog 29 and prevent the latter from dropping; into either of the slots 27 or 28 when such slots are in alignment therewith.

'Integrally formed upon the outer terminals of the, extension 18 and plate 22 are upwardly and outwardly extending complemental claws 0r horns 32, the inner or opposing; sides of which are undercut to form and provide theii'ebetween an inwardly tions of the latter.

convergent slot 33 for the reception of the twisted or interlocked terminals of the tie wires during the initial tightening opera- The junctures of the outer radially disposed ends of the extension 18 andplate .22 with the outer curvilinear edges of their correlated claws 32 form and constitute thereat a heel 34: the purpose and function of which'will be hereinafter set forth.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, wherein a slightly modified form of wire tightener is disclosed, the numeral 35 designates an oscillative handle having a flared terminal portion 36 and a laterally offset horseshoe-shaped extension 37 integrally and symmetrically connected upon its periphery to said terminal portion. The inner face of the extension 37 is concentrically undercut to provide a concentric seat 38 therein, see Pig. 8. Detaehably' secured to such inner face, as by screws 39, and normally abutting the same is a complement-a1 horseshoe-shaped plate 40, the inner face of which is similarly undercut to provide a concentric seat 41.

interposed between the extenson 37 and plate 40 and disposed within the concentric seats 38 and 41 thereof isan intermittently rotated ratchet wheel l2, which maintained and retained in operative position therebetween due to the horseshoe-shape of said extension 37 and plate 40, as will be apparent and obvious by referring to Fig. 6. The ratchet wheel l2 provided with open-ended slots 43 and n, which slots extend and converge inwardly from the pcriphery thereof in slightly divergent symmetrical spaced relation to a diametral chord of said ratchet wheel. The length of the slot 43 is substantially equivalent to onehalf of the diameter of the ratchet wheel,

while, the length of the slot Pl substantially equivalent to three-fourths of such diameter for the purpose hereinafter described.

Centrally and slidably disposed within the terminal portion 36 and normally projecting therefrom for selective engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel is spring pressed dog or pawl l5 having manually operable releasing pins 46 rigidly secured to the sides thereof, which pins extend and project perpendicularly therefrom through slots 47 formed or cut in the sides of the terminal portion 36, whcreat said pins are engaged by a thumb and finger of the operloo ator to expeditiously disengage the dog 4-5 from its correlated ratchet wheel,

Integrally formed upon one of the terminals of theextension 37 and the adjacent terminal ofthe plate 40 are complemental claws 48, the opposing faces of which are undercut to provide therebetween an inwardly convergent slot or cleft 49 for receiving the twisted or interconnected terminals of the tie wires, while, thelatter are being initially ti htened. The junetures of the inner edges ot the extension 37 and plate 40'with the outer curvilinear edges of the correlated claws 48 thereof, form and constitute thereat a heel 50, the purpose and function of which will be hereinafter described.

In Fig. 9, a relatively narrow concrete form 51 in process of erection is disclosed, comprising studding 52 and siding 53, which latter is rigidly secured to the studding, as by nails 541-. To positively hold the concrete form against bulging or bursting, while the concrete is being poured therein, transversely disposed tie wires 55 are provided therefore and are disposed at uniform spaced intervals around the studding as clearly illustrated in Fig.- 9. The transversely disposed tie wires 55 are operatively positioned within and secured to the concrete form 51., by looping the same around the studding 52 upon one side of the form, preferably at points thereon, which are in the planes of the joints of the siding 53; then transversely extending the legs of such tie wires in spaced parallel relation across the form, by passing the same through notches 55 cut in the opposing edges or overlapping joints of the siding 53; then tieing the free ends or terminals of the tie wires around the studding 52 upon the opposite side o't' the form, by initially twisting such ends, substantially in the manner indicated in Fig. 13; then straddling said twisted ends with the claws 32 and flexing the untwisted terminal portions 57 of said twisted ends thereon, as more clearly illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, then elevating the handle 16 whereby the heel 34 is caused to abut the studding 52 to function a fulcrum thereat and continued elevation of the handle will imposed a tensional strain upon the legs of the tie wires to remove any slack therein; whereupon the device of the invention is rotated or turned in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 15, to further twist the ends of the wires to thereby take up such slack and initially tighten the wires.

To positively maintain the sides of the concrete form 51 in proper spaced relation during the reinforcing of the same by the tie wires 55, transverse spreaders 58 are interposed therebetween in the Vertical planes of such tie wires, and in adjacent spaced parallel relation thereto, substantially as shown in Fig. 9. V

In Fig. 10 a relatively wide concrete form 59 in process of erection is disclosed, comprising studding 60 having siding 61 rigidly secured to the inner edges thereof by nails 62. The numeral 63 represents transversely disposed tie wires, which in the present in stance are shown as crossed substantially midway their length prior to twisting. In this connection, it may be well to state, that actual experience has demonstrated the advisability and practicality of crossing the tie wires of concrete forms, when the same exceed a certain definite width, for. the reason that such crossed tie wires are more rapidly and readily twisted and tightened. The crossed tie'wires 63 are operatively positioned within and secured to the concrete form 59, substantially in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described for the tie wires 55. I

The operation of spinning and twisting a tie wire 55 with the device of the invention is as follows: The device is applied to the tie wire, substantially inthe manner illustrated in full lines in Figs. 9 and 11, by the operator holding the handle 16 in the full line.

position indicated; engaging or inserting one leg of the tie wire within the ratchet wheel slot 27 and engaging the other leg of the tie wire within the ratchet Wheel slot 28, at points thereon substantially midway their length; then depressing or lowering the handle 16 to the position indicated inv dot and dash lines in Fig. 11, the ratchet wheel 25 remaining stationary during such depression as the dog 29 rides free upon the teeth of same; then elevating or moving the handle 16 to the position, indicated in full lines in Fig. 12, so that the ratchet wheel 25 is simultaneously rotated by the dog 29 to the posi-' tion indicated in said figure and the legs of the tire wire 55 are initially crossed or twisted upon each other, as shown therein; following which the handle 16 is oscillated by the operator between the positions indicated in Fig. 12 to twist the tie wire until suflicient tension or tightness is secured, whereupon the device is removed therefrom, and the operation is repeated upon-another tie wire. i

The modified form of wire tightener disclosed in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is applied and operated substantially in the same manner as that described for the preferred form, and either form may be applied to the crossed wires 63 of the concrete form 59 shown in Fig. 10, and when applied are operated in the identical manner hereinbefore described for the tie wires 55.

Manifestly, therefore, the invention essentially resides in the novel construction, combination, adaptation and arrangement of parts ashas hereinbefore been fully demodifications of said construction may be resorted to without departing from the invention, or the benefits derivable therefrom. I also desire to have it understood that certain features of theinvention herein disclosed may be employed in other combinations than those shown and described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a wire tightener, in combination, a frame, a wire twisting disk-shaped member operatively mounted within said frame having .open'ended and inwardly convergent wire engaging slots of different lengths formed therein in divergent relation to a diametral chord thereof, and means for ache a-ting said member.

2. In a wire tightener, in combination, a frame, a wire twisting disleshaped member rotatively' mounted within'said frame having open-ended wire engaging slots of dif ferentlengths formed therein, extending and converging' inwardly from the periphery thereof in divergent symmetrical relation to a diai-netral chord of said member, and means for intermittently rotating said member. r

3. In a wire tightener, in combination, a frame, a wire twisting disk-shaped member rot-atively'inounted within said frame having a relatively short wire engaging slot and a relatively long wire engaging slot formed therein, said slots extending an d converging inwardly from the periphery of said member in divergent symmetrical relation to a diametral chord of the same, and means.

for selectively engaging said member termittently rotate the same. 7

4. In a wire tightener, in combination, an oscillative frame, a ratchet wheel mounted forrotation within one end of said frame having open-ended wire engaging slots of different lengths formed therein. extending and converging inwardly from its periphery in divergent symmetrical relation to a diametral chord th'ereof, and a spring-pressed dog centrallyand slidably disposed within -1' 19 illthe end of said frame for selective engagement with said ratchet wheel whereby oscillative movements of the frame impart intermittent rotation to the ratchet Wheel for twisting the wires engaged within the slots thereof;

5. In a wire tightener, in combination, an oscillative handle, a laterally offset segmental extension rigidly secured to one end thereof having its inner face concentrically undercut to forma seat therein, a complemental segmental plate detachably secured to the inner face of said extension, a ratchet wheel interposed between said extension and plate for rotation within said seat and having wire engaging slots formed therein, and spring-pressed dog slid-ably mounted within said frame for selectiveengagement with said ratchet wheel whereby oscillative movements of said handle impart intermittent rotation to said ratchet wheel for twisting the wires engaged within the slots thereof. Y r

6. In a wire tightener, in combination, an oscillative handle, a laterally offset segmental extension rigidly secured to one end thereof having its inner face concentrically undercut to form a seat therein, a complemental segmental plate detachably secured to the inner face of said extension having its inner face concentrically under cut to form a seat therein in alignment with said first named seat, a ratchet wheel interposed betweensaid extension and plate for rotation within the seats thereof and having IVII'O engaging slots of different lengths formed therein, a spring-pressed dog centrally anc slidably mounted within the extension end of said handle for selective engagement with the ratchet wheel whereby oseillative movements of the handle impart intermittent rotation to said ratchet wheel fol-twisting the wires engaged within the slots thereof, and manually operable means for releasing said dog from engagement with said ratchet wheel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANDREIV G. HJERT. 

